The LED screen embedded into Amway Center’s east façade hints at what happened Monday. A larger-than-life photo of Jameer Nelson greets I-4 commuters, along with the words, “The Orlando Magic would like to thank Jameer Nelson for 10 years of legendary moments.”

The Magic waived Nelson, their most popular player, after 10 seasons.

The breakup was mutual: The Magic will save $6 million, and Nelson will have a chance to join a contending team after two seasons of abject losing and seeing no end in sight to the team’s struggles.

“The people, the way they embraced me there in Orlando over the last 10 years, were phenomenal,” Nelson told the Orlando Sentinel in a phone interview. “Not too many players can say they played in the same place in any sport for 10 years.”

Originally acquired as a rookie through a draft-night trade in 2004, the diminutive point guard exceeded all expectations. He ranks second in team history in games played, fourth in points and first in assists. A one-time All-Star, Nelson was the last remaining player from the Magic squads that reached the 2009 NBA Finals and the 2010 Eastern Conference finals.

Always loyal, Nelson helped the franchise move on from Dwight Howard’s messy departure in 2012. Nelson also mentored some of the team’s younger players, and his professionalism helped hold the locker room together despite a 62-loss season in 2012-13 and a 59-loss season in 2013-14.

“Jameer is the ultimate professional,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan said in a statement released by the team. “We truly thank him for his contributions to the organization, both on the court and in the community, during the last decade. He will always be a member of the Magic family.”

Nelson loves Orlando, too.

People close to Nelson say he has always remembered how kind Central Floridians and Magic employees were following the drowning death of his father, Pete Nelson Sr., in 2007.

Still, all the losing over the past few years have been tough on Nelson.

“He had a great 10 years, and it’s time to move on,” Nelson’s longtime agent, Steve Mountain, told the Sentinel. “The direction that the team is heading does not allow a proper opportunity for Jameer or the young players that the team has committed to. We’re appreciative of everything Orlando has done for us.”

Nelson, 32, will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers.

“I feel like I can still play at a high level,” Nelson said. “Given the right opportunity, I think I can help a team get to a championship and win one. That’s my goal. That should be everybody’s goal: to win a championship. If not, you’re playing for the wrong reason.

“Obviously, [the Magic] have given me a lot of opportunities there for me and my family to have a second home there. The fans and the organization — everybody has embraced me and my family and basically adopted us to be Floridians. Now, they’re giving me another opportunity to go somewhere else and play and extend my career.”

The Detroit Pistons, led by his former coach, Stan Van Gundy, might pursue him. So might the Charlotte Hornets, who are coached by former Magic assistant coach Steve Clifford. So might the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat, a pair of contenders that need to improve their postseason point-guard play.

“I’m just going to approach it like anything else,” Nelson said. “This is life as a professional. There’s going to be teams calling — I hope there’s teams calling. Hopefully, there’s going to be a lot of teams calling. Hopefully, there’s going to be some interest. We have to wait and see. I’m not sure what certain teams need and what they’re looking for.”

The 2014-15 season — the final year of Nelson’s three-year deal — was only partially guaranteed. By waiving him, the team will only pay him $2 million instead of the $8 million Nelson would’ve received if he had remained on the roster after July 15.

Several days ago, the Magic acquired rookie Elfrid Payton through a draft-night trade, and Payton is Orlando’s point guard of the future.

Asked for his fondest memory from the last 10 years, Nelson responded: “It’s off-the-court moments that I’ve had, with the gestures and the things the fans would give to you or say to you or the DeVoses and having talks with them. Those things go beyond basketball.”

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